Blog

Trail Running in Moab

• April 2013
• Climb

Hi Steph,
Let me start by telling you how much of an inspiration you are. Since I have a 5 months old little guy, logistics around climbing is getting a bit more complicated. I started trail running to find an alternate, more simple way to move around mountains. This spring, we decided that I would take a break out of my phd and take advantage of my girlfriend’s maternity leave to travel in Southwestern US, starting around Moab.

I wanted to know if you could indicate a few good trail runs that you enjoy, between 6 and 25 miles. Also, what would be your choice to do baby-friendly cragging in the southwest. We would like to climb as much as possible, but not at the expense of spending quality time with our little guy!

Thanks a lot,
JP

Hi JP,
There is a new trail system off of 191 (when you are driving on 191 south toward Moab) called the Bar M trails. You can make lots of various loops, and they are all marked with signs and distances. This is scenic and rolling terrain. There are lots of very good runs on Kane Creek road too. You can do an out-and-back on the Jackson’s Loop, which is just out of the first dirt parking lot when Kane Creek road becomes dirt. You can also turn that into a 6 mile loop if you go left and connect with the dirt road when you reach the top, which is the Amasa Back trail.

Pritchett Canyon is on the left, just before Kane Creek road turns to dirt, and that is a good out and back, or you can make it into a 12 mile loop if you come down Hunter and Gatherer Canyon at the end, which is one of the better 12 mile lops around. You can also go up Gatherer Canyon, and that is a good out and back too, if you don’t want to do the loop. If you do want to do the loop, and you want it to be even longer, you can exit Gatherer Canyon and continue down Kane Creek Road over Hoorah Pass, into Jackson’s Hole and then climb up Jackson’s Ladder and finish on Amasa Back (I recommend having a map if you do that), which is about 30 miles total.

Poison Spider is another good 12 mile loop, if you run up to the Portal and come down the Portal trail. I like to leave a bike parked at the bottom of the Portal trail, because I really don’t like running the 2 miles on Potash road back to the Poison Spider trailhead.

Another good out and back is Porcupine Rim, starting from the River Road, but not as good on weekends because you may have to pass a lot of mountain bikers coming down.

If you go into a mountain bike shop, you can buy a local guidebook to the mountain biking trails (all of these are in there), because there are plenty more to choose from.

There’s also a really nice guy in town, Chris Martinez, who organizes all the ultra and trail running events, and he has started a trail running guide service which is becoming very popular.

Have a great trip!
Steph